Hello all! I’m new to the IMAC area of RCU, don’t have a plane like the ones in here. I won’t say I will never have one, that would be silly, but it’s not my area of interest. I do love the flying and scale nature of it though.

Now, I’m vaguely aware of the controversy of the pilot and panel rule. I really don’t have any interest in entering that debate at all, but since my area of interest has always been scale models, I think they look better will a little detail. Given my scale background I am well aware of the negative affects of weight! I was approached by an aircraft manufacturer and commissioned to build the molds for a scale pilot and some instrument panels. My first project is for the 40% Extra. I was told that no scale pilots with the correct flight helmet were available, doing a quick search I found this to be true. All motorcycle helmets!

My completed panel is 10” long and weighs 1 1/2oz ready to install. It’s shown in a Bob Godfrey Extra canopy.

My pilot head is 8 ½” at the shoulders and 7” high, here I am showing the unfinished sculpture. I’m not going to reveal the actual method of construction at this time but I am anticipating a weight of less than 1 1/2oz.

Thanks,

Dion

Dion,

The pilot looks absolutely fantastic. If you can get it to 1 1/2 oz., you will have a winner. Do you plan to provide them painted?

Ken

Hi ken,

Thanks, I was wondering if people would like this type of pilot, that's one reason I posted. I plan to produce them in both painted and unpainted. I'm not the expert on what colors people would like to see, maybe I could get some input here? I really get into my painting, so no single color flesh tones! Probably just do some blue, red and other color helmets. Has anyone seen a full scale pilot in competition using the stock military helmet?

Dion

I do not know of any full scale IAC pilots that uses the F1 racing helmets that seem to be popular with the model pilots for IMAC planes. They are to heavy and clunky in an airplane. Just about any picture you see of a full scale aerobatic pilot the helmet will be a military HGU-55 type helmet. www.flightsuits.com

FWIW,

Anna Wood
Queen Creek, AZ

Thank you Anna, makes sense. I think the reason the F1 helmets are used is because they are easy to produce, once you start getting fine detail then the molding process becomes more complex. Adding complexity tends to add weight, so that is what I think is behind the F1 design for model aircraft. Of course I think I can have both, nice detail and light weight! We shall see!

Thanks for the link, and your web site is nice.

Dion